US10425539B2 - Charging method, network device, and billing system - Google Patents

Charging method, network device, and billing system Download PDF

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US10425539B2
US10425539B2 US15/855,616 US201715855616A US10425539B2 US 10425539 B2 US10425539 B2 US 10425539B2 US 201715855616 A US201715855616 A US 201715855616A US 10425539 B2 US10425539 B2 US 10425539B2
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charging
pcef
control
offline
pcrf
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US20180124253A1 (en
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Yaoqiang Xu
Guangwei He
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Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
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Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
    • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
    • H04W4/24—Accounting or billing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/65—Off-line charging system
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/41—Billing record details, i.e. parameters, identifiers, structure of call data record [CDR]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/62—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP based on trigger specification
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/64—On-line charging system [OCS]
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/66—Policy and charging system
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/70—Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/70—Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
    • H04M15/74—Backing up
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
    • H04M15/852—Low balance or limit reached
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
    • H04M15/853—Calculate maximum communication time or volume
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M15/00—Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
    • H04M15/83—Notification aspects
    • H04M15/85—Notification aspects characterised by the type of condition triggering a notification
    • H04M15/854—Available credit

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to the field of mobile communications, and in particular, to a charging method, a network device, and a billing system (BS).
  • BS billing system
  • a BS In a telecommunications network described by the 3 rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a BS is one of the important functional components of the telecommunications network and is an important guarantee for revenues of an operator.
  • 3GPP 3 rd Generation Partnership Project
  • a user may be switched to offline charging, thereby ensuring continuing use of a service, improving user experience, and avoiding a loss to the operator.
  • OCS online charging system
  • a holding timer is usually used to set duration for offline charging. The user is deactivated after timeout. If the OCS has recovered when the user goes online again, online charging is recovered, or if the OCS has not recovered, offline charging is continued. After the user is switched to offline charging, a generated charging data record carries a switched-to-offline flag. The BS may eventually perform complementary fee deduction on the charging data record carrying the switched-to-offline flag.
  • Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a charging method, a network device, and a BS in order to mitigate a user account overdraft risk and improve user experience.
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a charging method, including performing, by a policy and charging enforcement function (PCEF), online charging for user equipment (UE), learning, by the PCEF, that an OCS is unavailable, switching, by the PCEF, the UE from online charging to offline charging, and starting an offline timer, where the offline timer is configured to indicate a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE, and restoring, by the PCEF, the UE from offline charging to online charging if the PCEF learns, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS becomes available.
  • PCEF policy and charging enforcement function
  • that the PCEF learns that the OCS becomes available includes sending, by the PCEF, a request message to the OCS, and receiving, by the PCEF, a success response message sent by the OCS, where the success response message is a response to the request message, and is used to indicate that the OCS has become available.
  • the method further includes sending, by the PCEF, a first update message to a policy and charging rules function (PCRF), where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, receiving, by the PCEF, a first update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the first update answer message carries a second control and charging policy, and the second control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is adjusted by the PCRF according to the first update message, and executing, by the PCEF, the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • PCRF policy and charging rules function
  • the first update message includes a first Event-Trigger attribute-value pair (AVP), the first Event-Trigger AVP includes a first parameter value, and the first parameter value is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging.
  • AVP Event-Trigger attribute-value pair
  • the method further includes sending, by the PCEF, a second update message to the PCRF, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging, receiving, by the PCEF, a second update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the second update answer message carries a first control and charging policy, and the first control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is restored by the PCRF according to the second update message, and executing, by the PCEF, the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the second update message includes a second Event-Trigger AVP
  • the second Event-Trigger AVP includes a second parameter value
  • the second parameter value is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging.
  • quality of service (QoS) in the second control and charging policy is lower than QoS in the first control and charging policy.
  • learning, by the PCEF, that an OCS is unavailable includes learning, by the PCEF, that a link between the PCEF and the OCS fails, and sending, by the PCEF, a request message to the OCS includes sending, by the PCEF, the request message to the OCS after perceiving that a failure in the link between the PCEF and the OCS is rectified, or learning, by the PCEF, that the OCS makes no response, or receiving an error code sent by the OCS, and sending, by the PCEF, a request message to the OCS includes regularly sending, by the PCEF, the request message to the OCS.
  • switching, by the PCEF, the UE from online charging to offline charging includes performing, by the PCEF, charging data record splitting to generate an offline charging data record, where the offline charging data record carries a switched-to-offline flag, and the switched-to-offline flag is used to identify that a BS performs differential charging processing on the offline charging data record, and restoring, by the PCEF, the UE from offline charging to online charging includes performing, by the PCEF, charging data record splitting such that a newly generated offline charging data record no longer carries the switched-to-offline flag.
  • the request message is a credit-control-request initial (CCR-I) message
  • the success response message is a credit-control-answer initial (CCA-I) message.
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a charging method, including switching, by a PCEF, UE from online charging to offline charging, sending, by the PCEF, a first update message to a PCRF, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, receiving, by the PCEF, a first update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the first update answer message carries a second control and charging policy, and the second control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is adjusted by the PCRF according to the first update message, and executing, by the PCEF, the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the first update message includes a first Event-Trigger AVP
  • the first Event-Trigger AVP includes a first parameter value
  • the first parameter value is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging.
  • the method further includes sending, by the PCEF, a second update message to the PCRF after the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging, receiving, by the PCEF, a second update answer message sent by the PCEF, where the second update answer message carries a first control and charging policy, and the first control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is restored by the PCRF according to the second update message, and executing, by the PCEF, the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the second update message includes a second Event-Trigger AVP
  • the second Event-Trigger AVP includes a second parameter value
  • the second parameter value is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging.
  • QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than QoS in the first control and charging policy.
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a charging method, including receiving, by a PCRF, a first update message sent by the PCEF after a PCEF switches UE from online charging to offline charging, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, adjusting, by the PCRF, a first control and charging policy of the UE to a second control and charging policy according to the first update message, and sending, by the PCRF, a first update answer message to the PCEF, where the first update answer message carries the second control and charging policy such that after receiving the first update answer message, the PCEF executes the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the first update message includes a first Event-Trigger AVP
  • the first Event-Trigger AVP includes a first parameter value
  • the first parameter value is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging.
  • the method further includes receiving, by the PCRF, a second update message sent by the PCEF after the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging, restoring, by the PCRF, the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy according to the second update message, and sending, by the PCRF, a second update answer message to the PCEF, where the second update answer message carries the first control and charging policy such that after receiving the second update answer message, the PCEF executes the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the second update message includes a second Event-Trigger AVP
  • the second Event-Trigger AVP includes a second parameter value
  • the second parameter value is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging.
  • QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than QoS in the first control and charging policy.
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a network device, including a processing unit configured to perform online charging for UE, and learn that an OCS is unavailable. Then switch the UE from online charging to offline charging, and start an offline timer, where the offline timer is configured to indicate a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE, and if the PCEF learns, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS becomes available, restore the UE from offline charging to online charging.
  • the network device further includes a sending unit configured to send a request message to the OCS, and a receiving unit configured to receive a success response message sent by the OCS, where the success response message is a response to the request message, and is used to indicate that the OCS has become available.
  • the sending unit is further configured to send a first update message to a PCRF after the processing unit switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging
  • the receiving unit is further configured to receive a first update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the first update answer message carries a second control and charging policy, and the second control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is adjusted by the PCRF according to the first update message
  • the processing unit is further configured to execute the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the sending unit is further configured to send a second update message to the PCRF after the processing unit restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging
  • the receiving unit is further configured to receive a second update answer message sent by the PCEF, where the second update answer message carries a first control and charging policy, and the first control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is restored by the PCRF according to the second update message
  • the processing unit is further configured to execute the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the sending unit when the processing unit is further configured to learn that a link between the network device and the OCS fails, the sending unit is further configured to send the request message to the OCS after it is perceived that a failure in the link between the network device and the OCS is rectified, or when the processing unit is further configured to learn that the OCS makes no response, or receive an error code sent by the OCS, the sending unit is further configured to regularly send the request message to the OCS.
  • the processing unit when switching the UE from online charging to offline charging, is further configured to perform charging data record splitting to generate an offline charging data record, where the offline charging data record carries a switched-to-offline flag, and the switched-to-offline flag is used to identify that a BS performs differential charging processing on the offline charging data record, and when restoring the UE from offline charging to online charging, the processing unit is further configured to perform charging data record splitting such that a newly generated offline charging data record no longer carries the switched-to-offline flag.
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a network device, including a processing unit configured to switch UE from online charging to offline charging, a sending unit configured to send a first update message to a PCRF, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, and a receiving unit configured to receive a first update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the first update answer message carries a second control and charging policy, and the second control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is adjusted by the PCRF according to the first update message, where the processing unit is further configured to execute the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the sending unit is further configured to send a second update message to the PCRF after the UE is restored from offline charging to online charging, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging
  • the receiving unit is further configured to receive a second update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the second update answer message carries a first control and charging policy
  • the first control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is restored by the PCRF according to the second update message
  • the processing unit is further configured to execute the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a network device, including a receiving unit configured to receive a first update message sent by the PCEF after a PCEF switches UE from online charging to offline charging, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, a processing unit configured to adjust a first control and charging policy of the UE to a second control and charging policy according to the first update message received by the receiving unit, and a sending unit configured to send a first update answer message to the PCEF, where the first update answer message carries the second control and charging policy such that after receiving the first update answer message, the PCEF executes the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • a network device including a receiving unit configured to receive a first update message sent by the PCEF after a PCEF switches UE from online charging to offline charging, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, a processing unit configured to adjust a first control and charging policy of the UE to a second control and charging policy according to the first update message
  • the receiving unit is further configured to receive a second update message sent by the PCEF after the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging
  • the processing unit is further configured to restore the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy according to the second update message received by the receiving unit
  • the sending unit is further configured to send a second update answer message to the PCEF, where the second update answer message carries the first control and charging policy such that after receiving the second update answer message, the PCEF executes the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a BS, including a PCEF and an OCS, where the PCEF is configured to perform online charging for UE, switch the UE from online charging to offline charging, and start an offline timer when learning that the OCS is unavailable, where the offline timer is configured to indicate a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE, and restore the UE from offline charging to online charging if it is learned, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS becomes available.
  • the PCEF is configured to perform online charging for UE, switch the UE from online charging to offline charging, and start an offline timer when learning that the OCS is unavailable
  • the offline timer is configured to indicate a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE, and restore the UE from offline charging to online charging if it is learned, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS becomes available.
  • an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a BS, including a PCEF and a PCRF, where the PCEF is configured to switch UE from online charging to offline charging, and send a first update message to the PCRF, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, the PCRF is configured to receive the first update message sent by the PCEF, adjust a first control and charging policy of the UE to a second control and charging policy according to the first update message, and send a first update answer message to the PCEF, where the first update answer message carries the second control and charging policy, and the PCEF is further configured to receive the first update answer message sent by the PCRF, and execute the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the PCEF is configured to switch UE from online charging to offline charging, and send a first update message to the PCRF, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging
  • the PCRF is configured to receive the first update message sent by the PCEF, adjust a first control and charging policy
  • the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, and starts the offline timer. Then, if the PCEF learns, before the timer expires, that the OCS becomes available, the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, instead of performing an operation in which the PCEF stops offline charging for the UE and deactivates the UE after the offline timer expires.
  • an online charging function can be recovered in a timely manner when the OCS becomes available. In this way, a user account overdraft risk possibly existing in an offline charging process is mitigated, and deactivation of the user can be avoided in the solutions, thereby improving user experience.
  • FIG. 1 is a networking diagram of a BS in a packet switch (PS) domain according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 2 is an architectural diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a charging method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 4 is another flowchart of a charging method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 5 is a signaling interworking flowchart of online charging auto-recovery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 6 is another signaling interworking flowchart of online charging auto-recovery according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 7 is a flowchart of control and charging policy adjustment when online charging is switched to offline charging according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 8 is a flowchart of control and charging policy adjustment when offline charging is switched to online charging according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 9 is a signaling interworking flowchart of control and charging policy adjustment when online charging is switched to offline charging according to an embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a hardware structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of another hardware structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of another hardware structure of a network device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a BS according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a BS according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a process, a method, a system, a product, or a device that includes a series of steps or modules is not necessarily limited to the steps or modules that are expressly listed, but may include another step or module not expressly listed or inherent to the process, the method, the product, or the device.
  • the module division in this specification is merely logical division, and may be other division during implementation in actual application. For example, multiple modules may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed.
  • the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented using some interfaces.
  • the indirect couplings or communication connections between the modules may be implemented in electronic or another form, and this is not limited in this specification.
  • FIG. 1 In a mobile communications network, networking of a BS in a PS domain according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown in FIG. 1 .
  • a serving GPRS support node forwards an incoming/outgoing Internet Protocol (IP) packet to a mobile device (i.e., UE) within a service area of the SGSN, and the SGSN traces a location of the UE and performs a security function and access control
  • IP Internet Protocol
  • a gateway GPRS support node provides routing and encapsulation of a data packet between the GPRS/UMTS network and an external data network, and performs control and charging on a service used by a user
  • an OCS is a functional entity that performs real-time credit control, and functionality of the OCS includes transaction handling, rating, online correlation, and management of a user account balance
  • a charging gateway CG is responsible for collecting, consolidating, and preprocessing charging data records generated by the SGSN/GGSN, and provides an interface for communication with a billing center (i.e., BS), and
  • the GGSN uses the Diameter protocol to interact with the OCS using an online charging reference point between a PCEF and the OCS (i.e., Gy) to implement an online charging function.
  • the OCS can perform, according to a user account status, real-time credit control on a service used by a user.
  • the GGSN uses the GPRS tunneling protocol (GTP) to send, to the CG, a charging data record generated by the GGSN using a reference point between a PS domain gateway and the CG for charging data record transfer (i.e., Ga) to implement an offline charging function.
  • GTP GPRS tunneling protocol
  • the CG After preprocessing the charging data record, the CG sends the charging data record to the BS using a reference point for a PS domain charging data record file transfer from the CG to the billing center (i.e., Bp), and the BS completes final fee deduction processing.
  • Bp billing center
  • Offline charging information may be used for account reconciliation to ensure correct and accurate online charging.
  • the offline charging information may be used as a basis for complementary fee deduction after the OCS fails.
  • FIG. 2 is an architectural diagram of a system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a PCEF is located at a gateway, may be a GGSN in a GPRS network, and is configured to provide routing and encapsulation of a data packet between the GPRS network and an external data network, and execute a control and charging policy delivered by a PCRF to implement a charging function
  • a PCEF may be a serving packet data network (PDN) gateway (PGW) of an evolved packet core (EPC) shown in FIG. 1 , and is configured to provide routing and encapsulation of a data packet between a UMTS network and an external data network, and execute a control and charging policy delivered by a PCRF to implement a charging function.
  • PDN packet data network
  • PGW serving packet data network gateway
  • EPC evolved packet core
  • functionality of an OCS includes transaction handling, rating, online correlation, and management of a user account balance, and the OCS cooperates with the PCEF to complete online charging.
  • a CG is responsible for collecting, consolidating, and preprocessing charging data records generated by an SGSN/GGSN, and provides an interface for communication with a billing center, and the CG cooperates with the PCEF to complete offline charging.
  • a PCRF implements functions of dynamic QoS policy control and dynamic flow-based charging control, and further provides an authorization control function that is based on user subscription information, and delivers a control and charging policy to the PCEF.
  • This embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to another similar system having both an online charging function and an offline charging function such that after online charging is switched to offline charging, online charging can be recovered without service interruption.
  • this embodiment of the present disclosure may also be applied to another similar system in which the PCRF, the online charging function, and the offline charging function are all deployed such that control and charging policy adjustment can be performed when online charging is switched to offline charging, and when online charging is recovered.
  • the following describes a method for recovering online charging without service interruption after online charging is switched to offline charging in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a flowchart of a charging method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the following steps.
  • Step 301 A PCEF performs online charging for UE.
  • the UE sends a service request to the PCEF, and after receiving the service request of the UE, the PCEF interacts with an OCS to perform activation authentication in order to complete UE activation.
  • the PCEF interacts with the OCS to start to perform online charging for the UE.
  • the UE uses the PCEF to apply for a quota or report a used quota to the OCS, and the OCS can control, by means of quota management and real-time quota delivery, a user account status corresponding to the UE in order to perform real-time credit control on a service used by a user.
  • Step 302 The PCEF learns that an OCS is unavailable.
  • the PCEF When the PCEF applies for the quota or reports the used quota to the OCS in the online charging process, if the quota application or the quota reporting fails due to an OCS failure or for another reason, the PCEF may learn that the OCS is unavailable.
  • Step 303 The PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, and starts an offline timer.
  • the PCEF When the PCEF learns that the OCS is unavailable, the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, thereby ensuring continuing use of a service and improving user experience. However, to avoid an account overdraft caused when the user who is switched to offline charging uses the service for a long time, the PCEF sets the offline timer when switching the UE from online charging to offline charging.
  • the offline timer is configured to set duration for offline charging of the UE, that is, a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE. When the offline timer expires, the UE is deactivated, and a service currently used by the user is interrupted.
  • Step 304 If the PCEF learns, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS becomes available, the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging.
  • the PCEF attempts to restore communication with the OCS, and if the PCEF learns, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS becomes available, it indicates that the OCS can interact with the PCEF to implement an online charging function. Therefore, the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging such that the system recovers the online charging function without interrupting the service currently used by the user.
  • the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, and starts the offline timer. Then, if the PCEF learns, before the timer expires, that the OCS becomes available, the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, instead of performing an operation in which the PCEF stops offline charging for the UE and deactivates the UE after the offline timer expires. Therefore, according to the solution, after the user is switched to offline charging, the online charging function can be recovered in a timely manner when the OCS becomes available. In this way, a user account overdraft risk possibly existing in the offline charging process is mitigated, and deactivation of the user can be avoided in the solution, thereby improving user experience.
  • a PCRF may subscribe to an event of switching from online charging to offline charging and an online charging recovery event, and perform control and charging policy adjustment, improving policy control flexibility.
  • FIG. 4 another flowchart of a charging method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes the following steps.
  • Step 401 A PCEF performs online charging for UE.
  • the UE sends a service request to the PCEF, and after the PCEF receives the service request of the UE, the PCEF interacts with an OCS to perform activation authentication, and interacts with a PCRF to obtain a control and charging policy in order to complete UE activation.
  • a control and charging policy used by the UE in an online charging process is referred to as a first control and charging policy.
  • the PCEF interacts with the OCS to start to perform online charging for the UE.
  • the UE uses the PCEF to apply for a quota or report a used quota to the OCS, and the OCS can control, by means of quota management and real-time quota delivery, a user account status corresponding to the UE in order to perform real-time credit control on a service used by a user.
  • Step 402 The PCEF learns that an OCS is unavailable.
  • the PCEF When the PCEF applies for the quota or reports the used quota to the OCS in the online charging process, if the quota application or the quota reporting fails due to an OCS failure or for another reason, the PCEF may learn that the OCS is unavailable.
  • Scenario 1 A communication link between the PCEF and the OCS fails.
  • the PCEF When the PCEF sends a message to the OCS to apply for the quota or report the used quota, if the PCEF detects that the communication link between the PCEF and the OCS fails, the PCEF may determine that the OCS is unavailable.
  • the PCEF detects that the communication link between the PCEF and the OCS fails is in the other approaches. Further, detection may be performed using a heartbeat packet, and details are not described herein.
  • Scenario 2 The OCS makes no response after receiving a message sent by the PCEF.
  • the PCEF may determine that the OCS is unavailable.
  • Scenario 3 The OCS returns an error code.
  • the OCS When overloaded, the OCS sends the error code (i.e., Result-Code) to notify the PCEF that the OCS cannot process a service currently.
  • the PCEF may determine that the OCS is unavailable.
  • Step 403 The PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, and starts an offline timer.
  • the PCEF When applying for the quota or reporting the used quota to the OCS, if the PCEF finds that the OCS is unavailable, the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, thereby ensuring continuing use of a service and improving user experience.
  • the PCEF sets the offline timer when switching the UE from online charging to offline charging.
  • the offline timer is configured to set duration for offline charging of the UE, that is, a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE. When the offline timer expires, the UE is deactivated, and a service currently used by the user is interrupted.
  • Step 404 The PCEF sends a first update message to a PCRF.
  • the PCEF When the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, or after the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, the PCEF interacts with the PCRF to obtain a control and charging policy. In this case, the PCEF sends the first update message to the PCRF to report, to the PCRF, an event that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging. After receiving the first update message, the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to a second control and charging policy in order to mitigate a user account overdraft risk.
  • the first update message sent by the PCEF to the PCRF may be a credit-control-request update (CCR-U) message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • CCR-U credit-control-request update
  • the PCEF sends the CCR-U message to the PCRF using a Gx interface for communication with the PCRF.
  • the CCR-U message carries an Event-Trigger AVP.
  • the Event-Trigger AVP is used to report an event to the PCRF such that the PCRF generates different control and charging policies according to different events.
  • Parameter values of the Event-Trigger AVP are extended such that one of the parameter values is used to indicate an event of switching from online charging to offline charging, and the parameter value is referred to as a first parameter value.
  • the PCRF generates a corresponding control and charging policy according to the first parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE, and the control and charging policy is referred to as the second control and charging policy.
  • that the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to the second control and charging policy used during offline charging may include adjusting QoS in the control and charging policy. Further, the QoS in the control and charging policy is reduced. For example, a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitigating the user account overdraft risk.
  • a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitiga
  • the PCRF may adjust another parameter in the control and charging policy, for example, adjust a charging rate to mitigate the user account overdraft risk.
  • a specific adjustment method is not limited herein.
  • Step 405 The PCEF receives a first update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the PCRF After the PCEF sends the first update message to the PCRF, the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy of the UE to the second control and charging policy. Then the PCRF sends the second control and charging policy to the PCEF using the first update answer message, and the PCEF receives the first update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the first update answer message sent by the PCRF to the PCEF may be a credit-control-answer update (CCA-U) message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • Step 406 The PCEF executes a second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the PCEF After receiving the first update answer message sent by the PCRF, the PCEF executes the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy by reducing QoS of the UE
  • the QoS of the UE in an offline charging process is reduced after the PCEF executes the second control and charging policy on the UE, thereby mitigating the user account overdraft risk.
  • Step 407 The PCEF sends a request message to the OCS.
  • the PCEF After the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, and before the offline timer expires, the PCEF sends the request message to the OCS to re-set up a session with the OCS.
  • the PCEF sends the request message to the OCS in the following manners.
  • Manner 1 The PCEF sends the request message to the OCS immediately when perceiving that the OCS is available.
  • the PCEF determines that the OCS is unavailable. In this case, if the PCEF perceives that a failure in the link between the PCEF and the OCS is rectified, the PCEF immediately sends the request message to the OCS to re-set up the session with the OCS.
  • the PCEF perceives that the failure in the link between the PCEF and the OCS is rectified in the other approaches. Further, detection may be performed using a heartbeat packet, and details are not described herein.
  • the PCEF determines that the OCS is unavailable. In this case, the PCEF regularly sends the request message to the OCS to re-set up the session with the OCS.
  • the PCEF detects that the failure in the link between the PCEF and the OCS is rectified in the other approaches, and details are not described herein.
  • the request message sent by the PCEF to the OCS may be a CCR-I message.
  • step 407 and steps 402 , 403 , and 404 have no definite time sequence relationship, and may be performed concurrently.
  • Step 408 If the PCEF receives, before the offline timer expires, a success response message sent by the OCS, the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging.
  • the PCEF After the PCEF sends the request message to the OCS to re-set up the session, if the PCEF receives, before the offline timer expires, the success response message sent by the OCS, it indicates that the OCS has become available, and can interact with the PCEF to implement an online charging function, where the success response message is a response of the OCS to the request message sent by the PCEF.
  • the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging such that the system recovers the online charging function without interrupting the service currently used by the user.
  • the success response message sent by the OCS to the PCEF may be a CCA-I message.
  • Step 409 The PCEF sends a second update message to the PCRF.
  • the PCEF After restoring the UE from offline charging to online charging, the PCEF interacts with the PCRF to obtain a control and charging policy in order to restore the control and charging policy of the UE.
  • the PCEF sends the second update message to the PCRF to report, to the PCRF, an event that the UE is restored to online charging.
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy used by the UE during offline charging to the first control and charging policy used during online charging.
  • the second update message sent by the PCEF to the PCRF may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the PCEF sends the CCR-U message to the PCRF using the Gx interface for communication with the PCRF.
  • a parameter value of an Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message is extended such that the extended parameter value is used to indicate an online charging recovery event, and the parameter value is referred to as a second parameter value.
  • the PCRF restores the control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy according to the second parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE.
  • the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy by reducing the QoS of the UE when online charging is switched to offline charging
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy by restoring the QoS of the UE.
  • Step 410 The PCEF receives a second update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy. Then the PCRF sends the first control and charging policy to the PCEF using the second update answer message, and the PCEF receives the second update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the second update answer message sent by the PCRF to the PCEF may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not further limited herein.
  • Step 411 The PCEF executes a first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the PCEF After receiving the second update answer message sent by the PCRF, the PCEF executes the first control and charging policy on the UE in order to restore the control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging.
  • the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy of the UE by reducing the QoS in the control and charging policy when online charging is switched to offline charging, the QoS of the UE is restored after the PCEF executes the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the PCEF when online charging is switched to offline charging or online charging is recovered, the PCEF sends, to the PCRF, an update message that carries the event of switching from online charging to offline charging or the online charging recovery event, and the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy of the UE according to the message, thereby further mitigating the user account overdraft risk.
  • the user does not need to be deactivated.
  • online charging can be recovered only by means of signaling interworking between the PCEF and the OCS such that signaling overheads can be reduced.
  • charging data record splitting needs to be performed.
  • a charging data record generated during offline charging carries a switched-to-offline flag, and is used as a basis for complementary fee deduction.
  • the PCEF performs charging data record splitting, and the charging data record splitting is considered as a first time of charging data record splitting.
  • each charging data record subsequently generated in the offline charging process carries the switched-to-offline flag, and the switched-to-offline flag is used to identify that a BS needs to perform differential processing on the offline charging data record, that is, to perform complementary fee deduction.
  • the PCEF After receiving the success response message sent by the OCS, the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging.
  • the PCEF performs charging data record splitting, and the charging data record splitting is considered as a second time of charging data record splitting.
  • the second time of charging data record splitting a subsequently generated offline charging data record no longer carries the switched-to-offline flag, and it indicates that in subsequent online charging, the subsequently generated offline charging data record is used only for account reconciliation, but not used as a fee deduction basis.
  • the charging data record generated during offline charging carries the switched-to-offline flag, thereby implementing complementary fee deduction on the charging data record in the offline charging process, and improving implementability of the solution.
  • a communication link between a PCEF and an OCS fails.
  • Step 501 During UE activation, UE sends a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) create request to the PCEF.
  • PDP Packet Data Protocol
  • Step 502 After receiving the PDP create request from the UE, the PCEF sends a CCR-I message to a PCRF to obtain a control and charging policy of the UE.
  • Step 503 After receiving the CCR-I message sent by the PCEF, the PCRF returns a CCA-I message to the PCEF to send the control and charging policy of the UE to the PCEF.
  • Step 504 After receiving the PDP create request from the UE, the PCEF sends a CCR-I message to the OCS to perform activation authentication.
  • Step 505 After receiving the CCR-I message sent by the PCEF, the OCS returns a CCA-I message to the PCEF to instruct the PCEF to complete activation authentication on the UE.
  • Step 506 After obtaining the control and charging policy of the UE from the PCRF and completing activation authentication with the OCS, the PCEF sends a PDP create success response message to the UE to complete UE activation.
  • Step 507 After the UE is successfully activated, the PCEF performs online charging for a service used by the UE, and a communication link between the PCEF and the OCS fails in this process.
  • Step 508 In an online charging process, the PCEF sends a CCR-U message to the OCS in real time to apply for a quota or report a used quota.
  • the PCEF switches the UE to offline charging processing, and the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging.
  • Step 509 When switching the UE from online charging to offline charging, the PCEF starts an offline timer, Holding-Timer, and the PCEF performs charging data record splitting to notify a CG that the UE enters offline charging.
  • the Holding-Timer is configured to set duration for offline charging of the UE, that is, a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE.
  • duration for offline charging of the UE that is, a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE.
  • Step 510 After the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging to mitigate an account overdraft risk of the user in an offline charging process, the PCEF sends a CCR-U message to the PCRF, where the CCR-U message carries, using an extended Event-Trigger AVP, an event that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging.
  • Step 511 After receiving the CCR-U message sent by the PCEF, the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy of the UE according to the event, carried in the Event-Trigger AVP in the message, that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging. Further, QoS of the UE may be reduced.
  • the PCRF sends an adjusted control and charging policy to the PCEF using a CCA-U message.
  • Step 512 After receiving the CCA-U message, the PCEF executes the adjusted control and charging policy on the UE.
  • each offline charging data record generated by the PCEF i.e., service container
  • the PCEF sends the charging data record carrying the switched-to-offline flag to the CG to complete offline charging.
  • the switched-to-offline flag is used to identify that a BS needs to perform differential charging processing on the offline charging data record, that is, to perform complementary fee deduction.
  • Step 513 A failure in the communication link between the PCEF and the OCS is restored.
  • Step 514 After perceiving that the communication link between the PCEF and the OCS is rectified, the PCEF sends a CCR-I message to the OCS to re-set up a session, where the CCR-I message carries a new Session-id.
  • Step 515 After receiving the CCR-I message sent by the PCEF, the OCS considers that the message is for activation of a new user, sends a CCA-I message to the PCEF in response, and successfully re-sets up a session with the PCEF.
  • a charging identifier (charging-id) carried in the CCR-I message sent by the PCEF is the same as a charging-id used during offline charging in order to ensure successful account reconciliation between online charging and offline charging.
  • the CCR-I message carries an actual activation time (start-time) of the UE, that is, a time at which the UE is successfully activated in step 506 , for use in subsequent data statistics.
  • Step 516 After the session is successfully created between the PCEF and the OCS, the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging. In this process, the PCEF performs charging data record splitting, notifies the CG that the UE is restored to online charging, and stops the offline timer Holding-Timer.
  • Step 517 After the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, the control and charging policy of the UE needs to be restored again. Therefore, the PCEF sends a CCR-U message to the PCRF to notify the PCRF that the UE has been restored to online charging includes adding, to the CCR-U message using an extended Event-Trigger AVP, an event that the UE is restored to online charging.
  • Step 518 After receiving the CCR-U message sent by the PCEF, the PCRF restores the control and charging policy of the UE to the control and charging policy prior to the adjustment according to the event, carried in the Event-Trigger AVP in the message, that the UE is restored to online charging.
  • the PCRF sends the restored control and charging policy to the PCEF using a CCA-U message.
  • Step 519 After receiving the CCA-U message sent by the PCRF, the PCEF restores the control and charging policy of the UE according to the CCA-U message, and notifies the CG that a subsequently generated offline charging data record in the online charging process no longer carries the switched-to-offline flag, that is, the offline charging data record generated in the online charging process is used only for account reconciliation, but not used as a fee deduction basis.
  • Step 601 During UE activation, UE sends a PDP create request to a PCEF.
  • Step 602 After receiving the PDP create request from the UE, the PCEF sends a CCR-I message to a PCRF to obtain a control and charging policy of the UE.
  • Step 603 After receiving the CCR-I message sent by the PCEF, the PCRF returns a CCA-I message to the PCEF to send the control and charging policy of the UE to the PCEF.
  • Step 604 After receiving the PDP create request from the UE, the PCEF sends a CCR-I message to the OCS to perform activation authentication.
  • Step 605 After receiving the CCR-I message sent by the PCEF, the OCS returns a CCA-I message to the PCEF to instruct the PCEF to complete activation authentication on the UE.
  • Step 606 After obtaining the control and charging policy of the UE from the PCRF and completing activation authentication with the OCS, the PCEF sends a PDP create success response message to the UE to complete UE activation.
  • Step 607 In an online charging process, the PCEF sends a CCR-U message to the OCS in real time to apply for a quota or report a used quota.
  • Step 608 A Tx Timer set by the PCEF expires, that is, within a predetermined time, no response of the OCS is received, or the OCS returns an error code.
  • a reason why the OCS makes no response may be an OCS failure, and a reason why the OCS returns the error code may be OCS overload.
  • Step 609 When switching the UE from online charging to offline charging, the PCEF starts an offline timer, Holding-Timer, and the PCEF performs charging data record splitting to notify a CG that the UE enters offline charging.
  • the Holding-Timer is configured to set duration for offline charging of the UE, that is, a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE.
  • duration for offline charging of the UE that is, a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE.
  • Step 610 The PCEF starts a timer, Recover-Timer, and when the Recover-Timer expires, sends a message to the OCS to re-set up a session in order to regularly attempt to recover online charging within the Holding-Timer.
  • Step 611 After the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging to mitigate an account overdraft risk of the user in an offline charging process, the PCEF sends a CCR-U message to the PCRF, where the CCR-U message carries, using an extended Event-Trigger AVP, an event that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging.
  • Step 612 After receiving the CCR-U message sent by the PCEF, the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy of the UE according to the event, carried in the Event-Trigger AVP in the message, that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging. Further, QoS of the UE may be reduced.
  • the PCRF sends an adjusted control and charging policy to the PCEF using a CCA-U message.
  • Step 613 After receiving the CCA-U message, the PCEF executes the adjusted control and charging policy on the UE.
  • each offline charging data record generated by the PCEF i.e., service container
  • the PCEF sends the charging data record carrying the switched-to-offline flag to the CG to complete offline charging.
  • the switched-to-offline flag is used to identify that a BS needs to perform differential charging processing on the offline charging data record, that is, to perform complementary fee deduction.
  • Step 614 The Recover-Timer expires, and the PCEF regularly sends a CCR-I message to the OCS to re-set up a session, where the CCR-I message carries a new session identifier (Session-id).
  • Step 615 If the OCS failure is rectified or the OCS overload is cleared, after receiving the CCR-I message sent by the PCEF, the OCS considers that the message is for activation of a new user, sends a CCA-I message to the PCEF in response, and successfully re-sets up a session with the PCEF.
  • a charging-id carried in the CCR-I message sent by the PCEF is the same as a charging-id used during offline charging in order to ensure successful account reconciliation between online charging and offline charging.
  • the CCR-I message carries an actual activation time (start-time) of the UE, that is, a time at which the UE is successfully activated in step 606 , for use in subsequent data statistics.
  • the PCEF If the OCS failure is not rectified or the OCS overload is not cleared, after sending the CCR-I message to the OCS, the PCEF still cannot receive, within the predetermined time, the CCA-I message sent by the OCS, or receives the error code sent by the OCS. In this case, the PCEF restarts the timer, Recover-Timer, and performs operations from step 610 to step 615 again.
  • Step 616 After the session is successfully created between the PCEF and the OCS, the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, and the PCEF performs charging data record splitting, notifies the CG that the UE is restored to online charging, and stops the offline timer, Holding-Timer.
  • Step 617 After the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, the control and charging policy of the UE needs to be restored again. Therefore, the PCEF sends a CCR-U message to the PCRF to notify the PCRF that the UE has been restored to online charging includes adding, to the CCR-U message using an extended Event-Trigger AVP, an event that the UE is restored to online charging.
  • Step 618 After receiving the CCR-U message sent by the PCEF, the PCRF restores the control and charging policy of the UE to the control and charging policy prior to the adjustment according to the event, carried in the Event-Trigger AVP in the message, that the UE is restored to online charging.
  • the PCRF sends the restored control and charging policy to the PCEF using a CCA-U message.
  • Step 619 After receiving the CCA-U message sent by the PCRF, the PCEF restores the control and charging policy of the UE according to the CCA-U message, and notifies the CG that a subsequently generated offline charging data record in the online charging process no longer carries the switched-to-offline flag, that is, the offline charging data record generated in the online charging process is used only for account reconciliation, but not used as a fee deduction basis.
  • the following describes a method for subscribing to, by a PCRF from a PCEF, an event of switching from online charging to offline charging, and adjusting a control and charging policy of UE according to the event in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a flowchart of control and charging policy adjustment when online charging is switched to offline charging includes the following steps.
  • Step 701 A PCEF switches UE from online charging to offline charging.
  • Step 702 The PCEF sends a first update message to a PCRF.
  • the PCEF When the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, or after the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, the PCEF interacts with the PCRF to obtain a control and charging policy. In this case, the PCEF sends the first update message to the PCRF to report, to the PCRF, an event that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging. After receiving the first update message, the PCRF adjusts a first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to a second control and charging policy in order to mitigate a user account overdraft risk.
  • the first update message sent by the PCEF to the PCRF may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • Step 703 The PCEF receives a first update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the PCRF After the PCEF sends the first update message to the PCRF, the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy of the UE to the second control and charging policy.
  • the PCRF sends the second control and charging policy to the PCEF using the first update answer message, and the PCEF receives the first update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the first update answer message sent by the PCRF to the PCEF may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • Step 704 The PCEF executes a second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the PCEF After receiving the first update answer message sent by the PCRF, the PCEF executes the second control and charging policy on the UE in order to reduce a user account overdraft probability.
  • the PCEF sends an update message to the PCRF when online charging is switched to offline charging, and the PCRF adjusts a control and charging policy of the UE according to the update message such that the user account overdraft risk can be mitigated.
  • the PCEF sends the CCR-U message to the PCRF using a Gx interface for communication with the PCRF.
  • the CCR-U message carries an Event-Trigger AVP.
  • the Event-Trigger AVP is used to report an event to the PCRF such that the PCRF generates different control and charging policies according to different events.
  • Parameter values of the Event-Trigger AVP are extended such that one of the parameter values is used to indicate an event of switching from online charging to offline charging, and the parameter value is referred to as a first parameter value.
  • the PCRF generates a corresponding control and charging policy according to the first parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE, and the control and charging policy is referred to as the second control and charging policy.
  • that the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to the second control and charging policy used during offline charging may include adjusting QoS in the control and charging policy. Further, the QoS in the control and charging policy is reduced. For example, a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitigating the user account overdraft risk.
  • a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitiga
  • the PCRF may adjust another parameter in the control and charging policy, for example, adjust a charging rate to mitigate the user account overdraft risk.
  • a specific adjustment method is not limited herein.
  • the PCEF in an offline charging process, if the PCEF detects that the OCS becomes available, the PCEF re-sets up a session with the OCS, the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, and the PCEF re-obtains a control and charging policy from the PCRF in order to restore the control and charging policy of the UE.
  • a specific process is as follows.
  • the PCEF After restoring the UE from offline charging to online charging, the PCEF interacts with the PCRF to obtain the control and charging policy in order to restore the control and charging policy of the UE.
  • the PCEF sends a second update message to the PCRF to report, to the PCRF, an event that the UE is restored to online charging.
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy used by the UE during offline charging to the first control and charging policy used during online charging.
  • the PCRF sends the first control and charging policy to the PCEF using a second update answer message, and the PCEF receives the second update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the PCEF executes the first control and charging policy on the UE in order to restore the control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging.
  • the second update message sent by the PCEF to the PCRF may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the second update answer message sent by the PCRF to the PCEF may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the PCEF sends the CCR-U message to the PCRF using the Gx interface for communication with the PCRF.
  • a parameter value of an Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message is extended such that the extended parameter value is used to indicate an online charging recovery event, and the parameter value is referred to as a second parameter value.
  • the PCRF restores the control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy according to the second parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE.
  • the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy by reducing the QoS of the UE when online charging is switched to offline charging
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy by restoring the QoS of the UE.
  • the foregoing describes a charging policy adjustment method in a charging process from the perspective of a PCEF, and the following describes, from the perspective of a PCRF, a method for subscribing to, by the PCRF from the PCEF, an event of switching from online charging to offline charging, and adjusting a control and charging policy of UE according to the event in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a flowchart of control and charging policy adjustment when offline charging is switched to online charging includes the following steps.
  • Step 801 After a PCEF switches UE from online charging to offline charging, a PCRF receives a first update message sent by the PCEF.
  • the PCEF When the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, or after the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, the PCEF interacts with the PCRF to obtain a control and charging policy. In this case, the PCEF sends the first update message to the PCRF to report an event that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging, and the PCRF receives the first update message sent by the PCEF.
  • the first update message received by the PCRF may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • Step 802 The PCRF adjusts a first control and charging policy of the UE to a second control and charging policy according to the first update message.
  • the PCRF After receiving the first update message sent by the PCEF, the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to the second control and charging policy in order to mitigate a user account overdraft risk.
  • Step 803 The PCRF sends a first update answer message to the PCEF.
  • the PCRF After adjusting the first control and charging policy of the UE to the second control and charging policy, the PCRF sends the second control and charging policy to the PCEF using the first update answer message such that after receiving the first update answer message, the PCEF executes the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the first update answer message sent by the PCRF to the PCEF may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the PCRF receives an update message sent by the PCEF, the PCRF adjusts a control and charging policy of the UE according to the update message and then sends an adjusted control and charging policy to the PCEF, and the PCEF executes the adjusted control and charging policy on the UE such that the user account overdraft risk can be mitigated.
  • the PCRF receives, using a Gx interface for communication with the PCEF, the CCR-U message sent by the PCEF.
  • the CCR-U message carries an Event-Trigger AVP.
  • the Event-Trigger AVP is used to report an event to the PCRF such that the PCRF generates different control and charging policies according to different events.
  • Parameter values of the Event-Trigger AVP are extended such that one of the parameter values is used to indicate an event of switching from online charging to offline charging, and the parameter value is referred to as a first parameter value.
  • the PCRF generates a corresponding control and charging policy according to the first parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE, and the control and charging policy is referred to as the second control and charging policy.
  • the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to the second control and charging policy used during offline charging may include adjusting QoS in the control and charging policy. Further, the QoS in the control and charging policy is reduced. For example, a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitigating the user account overdraft risk.
  • a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitigating
  • the PCRF may adjust another parameter in the control and charging policy, for example, adjust a charging rate to mitigate the user account overdraft risk.
  • a specific adjustment method is not limited herein.
  • the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging
  • the PCEF re-obtains a control and charging policy from the PCRF in order to restore the control and charging policy of the UE.
  • a specific process is as follows.
  • the PCRF receives a second update message sent by the PCEF, and a function of the message is reporting, to the PCRF, an event that the UE is restored to online charging.
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy used by the UE during offline charging to the first control and charging policy used during online charging.
  • the PCRF sends the first control and charging policy to the PCEF using a second update answer message, and the PCEF receives the second update answer message sent by the PCRF such that the PCEF executes the first control and charging policy on the UE in order to restore the control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging.
  • the second update message received by the PCRF from the PCEF may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the second update answer message sent by the PCRF to the PCEF may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the PCRF receives, using the Gx interface for communication with the PCEF, the CCR-U message sent by the PCEF.
  • a parameter value of an Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message is extended such that the extended parameter value is used to indicate an online charging recovery event, and the parameter value is referred to as a second parameter value.
  • the PCRF restores the control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy according to the second parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE.
  • the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy by reducing QoS of the UE when online charging is switched to offline charging
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy by restoring the QoS of the UE.
  • Step 901 to step 906 are a UE activation process and are the same as step 501 to step 506 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , and details are not described herein again.
  • Step 907 After the UE is successfully activated, the PCEF performs online charging for a service used by the UE, and a communication link between the PCEF and the OCS fails in this process.
  • Step 908 In an online charging process, the PCEF sends a CCR-U message to the OCS in real time to apply for a quota or report a used quota.
  • the PCEF switches the UE to offline charging processing, and the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging.
  • Step 909 When switching the UE from online charging to offline charging, the PCEF performs charging data record splitting to notify a CG that the UE enters offline charging.
  • Step 910 The PCEF starts an offline timer, Holding-Timer, where the Holding-Timer is configured to set duration for offline charging of the UE, that is, a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE.
  • the offline timer expires, a user is deactivated, and a service currently used by the user is interrupted.
  • Step 911 After the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging to mitigate an account overdraft risk of the user in an offline charging process, the PCEF sends a CCR-U message to the PCRF, where the CCR-U message carries, using an extended Event-Trigger AVP, an event that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging.
  • Step 912 After receiving the CCR-U message sent by the PCEF, the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy of the UE according to the event, carried in the Event-Trigger AVP in the message, that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging. Further, QoS of the UE may be reduced.
  • the PCRF sends an adjusted control and charging policy to the PCEF using a CCA-U message.
  • Step 913 After receiving the CCA-U message, the PCEF executes the adjusted control and charging policy on the UE.
  • each offline charging data record generated by the PCEF i.e., a service container
  • the PCEF sends the charging data record carrying the switched-to-offline flag to the CG to complete offline charging.
  • the switched-to-offline flag is used to identify that a BS needs to perform differential charging processing on the offline charging data record, that is, to perform complementary fee deduction.
  • Step 914 The Holding-Timer expires, and the PCEF initiates a user deactivation message (i.e., PDP Create response) to the UE.
  • a user deactivation message i.e., PDP Create response
  • Step 915 The Holding-Timer expires, and the PCEF sends a credit-control-request terminate (CCR-T) message to the PCRF to terminate information exchange with the PCRF.
  • CCR-T credit-control-request terminate
  • Step 916 After receiving the PDP Create response message, the UE sends a PDP Create request message to the PCEF.
  • Step 917 After receiving the CCR-T message sent by the PCEF, the PCRF returns a credit-control-answer terminate (CCA-T) message to the PCEF in response to the PCEF.
  • CCA-T credit-control-answer terminate
  • Step 918 The PCEF generates a deactivation charging data record and sends the deactivation charging data record to the CG, where the deactivation charging data record (i.e., the service container) still carries the switched-to-offline flag.
  • the deactivation charging data record i.e., the service container
  • a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a network device 10 includes a processing unit 1001 configured to perform online charging for the UE, and learn that an OCS is unavailable, switch the UE from online charging to offline charging, and start an offline timer, where the offline timer is configured to indicate a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE, and restore the UE from offline charging to online charging if the PCEF learns, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS becomes available.
  • the following describes interaction between units or modules in the network device 10 of the present disclosure using a specific application scenario.
  • the UE sends a service request to the network device 10 , and after the network device 10 receives the service request of the UE, the processing unit 1001 in the network device 10 interacts with the OCS to perform activation authentication in order to complete UE activation.
  • the processing unit 1001 interacts with the OCS to start to perform online charging for the UE.
  • the UE uses the processing unit 1001 to apply for a quota or report a used quota to the OCS, and the OCS can control, by means of quota management and real-time quota delivery, a user account status corresponding to the UE in order to perform real-time credit control on a service used by a user.
  • the processing unit 1001 When the processing unit 1001 applies for the quota or reports the used quota to the OCS in the online charging process, if the quota application or the quota reporting fails due to an OCS failure or for another reason, the processing unit 1001 may learn that the OCS is unavailable.
  • the processing unit 1001 When the processing unit 1001 learns that the OCS is unavailable, the processing unit 1001 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, thereby ensuring continuing use of a service and improving user experience. However, to avoid an account overdraft caused when the user who is switched to offline charging uses the service for a long time, the processing unit 1001 sets the offline timer when switching the UE from online charging to offline charging.
  • the offline timer is configured to set duration for offline charging of the UE, that is, a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE. When the offline timer expires, the UE is deactivated, and a service currently used by the user is interrupted.
  • the processing unit 1001 attempts to restore communication with the OCS, and if the processing unit 1001 learns, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS becomes available, it indicates that the OCS can interact with the network device 10 to implement an online charging function. Therefore, the processing unit 1001 restores the UE from offline charging to online charging such that the system recovers the online charging function without interrupting the service currently used by the user.
  • the processing unit 1001 in the network device 10 restores the UE from offline charging to online charging such that the system recovers the online charging function without interrupting the service currently used by the user.
  • the processing unit 1001 if the processing unit 1001 learns, in the process of performing online charging for the UE, that the OCS is unavailable, the processing unit 1001 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, and starts the offline timer. Then, if the processing unit 1001 learns, before the timer expires, that the OCS becomes available, the processing unit 1001 restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, instead of performing an operation in which the processing unit 1001 stops offline charging for the UE and deactivates the UE after the offline timer expires. Therefore, according to the solution, after the user is switched to offline charging, the online charging function can be recovered in a timely manner when the OCS becomes available. In this way, a user account overdraft risk possibly existing in the offline charging process is mitigated, and deactivation of the user can be avoided in the solution, thereby improving user experience.
  • a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a network device 11 includes a processing unit 1101 configured to perform online charging for the UE, and learn that an OCS is unavailable, switch the UE from online charging to offline charging, and start an offline timer, where the offline timer is configured to indicate a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE, and restore the UE from offline charging to online charging if the PCEF learns, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS becomes available, a sending unit 1102 configured to send a request message to the OCS, and a receiving unit 1103 configured to receive a success response message sent by the OCS, where the success response message is a response to the request message, and is used to indicate that the OCS has become available.
  • the sending unit 1102 is further configured to send a first update message to a PCRF after the processing unit 1101 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging.
  • the receiving unit 1103 is further configured to receive a first update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the first update answer message carries a second control and charging policy, and the second control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is adjusted by the PCRF according to the first update message.
  • the processing unit 1101 is further configured to execute the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the sending unit 1102 is further configured to send a second update message to the PCRF after the processing unit 1101 restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging.
  • the receiving unit 1103 is further configured to receive a second update answer message sent by the PCEF, where the second update answer message carries a first control and charging policy, and the first control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is restored by the PCRF according to the second update message.
  • the sending unit 1102 is further configured to send the request message to the OCS after it is perceived that a failure in the link between the network device 11 and the OCS is rectified, or when the processing unit 1101 is further configured to learn that the OCS makes no response, or receive an error code sent by the OCS, the sending unit 1102 is further configured to regularly send the request message to the OCS.
  • the following describes interaction between units or modules in the network device 11 of the present disclosure using a specific application scenario.
  • the UE sends a service request to the network device 11 , and after the receiving unit 1103 receives the service request of the UE, the processing unit 1101 interacts with the OCS to perform activation authentication, and interacts with the PCRF to obtain a control and charging policy in order to complete UE activation.
  • a control and charging policy used by the UE in an online charging process is referred to as a first control and charging policy.
  • the processing unit 1101 in the network device 11 interacts with the OCS to start to perform online charging for the UE.
  • the UE uses the network device 11 to apply for a quota or report a used quota to the OCS, and the OCS can control, by means of quota management and real-time quota delivery, a user account status corresponding to the UE in order to perform real-time credit control on a service used by a user.
  • the processing unit 1101 When the processing unit 1101 applies for the quota or reports the used quota to the OCS in the online charging process, if the quota application or the quota reporting fails due to an OCS failure or for another reason, the processing unit 1101 may learn that the OCS is unavailable.
  • a communication link between the network device 11 and the OCS fails.
  • the processing unit 1101 may determine that the OCS is unavailable.
  • the processing unit 1101 detects that the communication link between the network device 11 and the OCS fails is in the other approaches. Further, detection may be performed using a heartbeat packet, and details are not described herein.
  • the OCS makes no response after receiving a message sent by the PCEF.
  • the processing unit 1101 may determine that the OCS is unavailable.
  • the OCS returns an error code.
  • the OCS When overloaded, the OCS sends the error code (i.e., Result-Code) to notify the network device 11 that the OCS cannot process a service currently.
  • the processing unit 1101 may determine that the OCS is unavailable.
  • the processing unit 1101 When applying for the quota or reporting the used quota to the OCS, if the processing unit 1101 finds that the OCS is unavailable, the processing unit 1101 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, thereby ensuring continuing use of a service and improving user experience. However, to avoid an account overdraft caused when the user who is switched to offline charging uses the service for a long time, the processing unit 1101 sets the offline timer when switching the UE from online charging to offline charging.
  • the offline timer is configured to set duration for offline charging of the UE, that is, a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE. When the offline timer expires, the UE is deactivated, and a service currently used by the user is interrupted.
  • the processing unit 1101 When the processing unit 1101 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, or after the processing unit 1101 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, the processing unit 1101 interacts with the PCRF to obtain a control and charging policy.
  • the sending unit 1102 sends the first update message to the PCRF to report, to the PCRF, an event that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging.
  • the PCRF After receiving the first update message, the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to a second control and charging policy in order to mitigate a user account overdraft risk.
  • the first update message sent by the sending unit 1102 to the PCRF may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the sending unit 1102 sends the CCR-U message to the PCRF using a Gx interface for communication with the PCRF.
  • the CCR-U message carries an Event-Trigger AVP.
  • the Event-Trigger AVP is used to report an event to the PCRF such that the PCRF generates different control and charging policies according to different events.
  • Parameter values of the Event-Trigger AVP are extended such that one of the parameter values is used to indicate an event of switching from online charging to offline charging, and the parameter value is referred to as a first parameter value.
  • the PCRF generates a corresponding control and charging policy according to the first parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE, and the control and charging policy is referred to as the second control and charging policy.
  • that the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to the second control and charging policy used during offline charging may be adjusting QoS in the control and charging policy. Further, the QoS in the control and charging policy is reduced. For example, a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitigating the user account overdraft risk.
  • a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitiga
  • the PCRF may adjust another parameter in the control and charging policy, for example, adjust a charging rate to mitigate the user account overdraft risk.
  • a specific adjustment method is not limited herein.
  • the PCRF After the sending unit 1102 sends the first update message to the PCRF, the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy of the UE to the second control and charging policy. Then the PCRF sends the second control and charging policy to the receiving unit 1103 in the network device 11 using the first update answer message, and the receiving unit 1103 receives the first update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the first update answer message sent by the PCRF to the receiving unit 1103 in the network device 11 may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the processing unit 1101 executes the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy by reducing QoS of the UE
  • the QoS of the UE in an offline charging process is reduced after the processing unit 1101 executes the second control and charging policy on the UE, thereby mitigating the user account overdraft risk.
  • the sending unit 1102 sends the request message to the OCS to re-set up a session with the OCS.
  • the sending unit 1102 sends the request message to the OCS in the following manners.
  • Manner 1 The sending unit 1102 sends the request message to the OCS immediately when the processing unit 1101 perceives that the OCS is available.
  • the processing unit 1101 determines that the OCS is unavailable. In this case, if the processing unit 1101 perceives that a failure in the link between the network device 11 and the OCS is rectified, the sending unit 1102 immediately sends the request message to the OCS to re-set up the session with the OCS.
  • the processing unit 1101 perceives that the failure in the link between the network device 11 and the OCS is rectified in the other approaches. Further, detection may be performed using a heartbeat packet, and details are not described herein.
  • Manner 2 The processing unit 1101 regularly sends the request message to the OCS.
  • the processing unit 1101 determines that the OCS is unavailable. In this case, the sending unit 1102 regularly sends the request message to the OCS to re-set up the session with the OCS.
  • the processing unit 1101 detects that the failure in the link between the network device 11 and the OCS is rectified in the other approaches, and details are not described herein.
  • the request message sent by the sending unit 1102 to the OCS may be a CCR-I message.
  • the sending unit 1102 sends the request message to the OCS to re-set up the session
  • the receiving unit 1103 receives, before the offline timer expires, the success response message sent by the OCS, it indicates that the OCS has become available, and can interact with the network device 11 to implement an online charging function, where the success response message is a response of the OCS to the request message sent by the PCEF.
  • the processing unit 1101 restores the UE from offline charging to online charging such that the system recovers the online charging function without interrupting the service currently used by the user.
  • the success response message sent by the sending unit 1102 to the OCS may be a CCA-I message.
  • the processing unit 1101 After restoring the UE from offline charging to online charging, the processing unit 1101 interacts with the PCRF to obtain the control and charging policy in order to restore the control and charging policy of the UE.
  • the sending unit 1102 sends the second update message to the PCRF to report, to the PCRF, an event that the UE is restored to online charging.
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy used by the UE during offline charging to the first control and charging policy used during online charging.
  • the second update message sent by the sending unit 1102 to the PCRF may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the sending unit 1102 sends the CCR-U message to the PCRF using the Gx interface for communication with the PCRF.
  • a parameter value of an Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message is extended such that the extended parameter value is used to indicate an online charging recovery event, and the parameter value is referred to as a second parameter value.
  • the PCRF restores the control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy according to the second parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE.
  • the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy by reducing the QoS of the UE when online charging is switched to offline charging
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy by restoring the QoS of the UE.
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy. Then the PCRF sends the first control and charging policy to the network device 11 using the second update answer message, and the receiving unit 1103 in the network device 11 receives the second update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the second update answer message sent by the sending unit 1102 to the PCEF may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the processing unit 1101 executes the first control and charging policy on the UE in order to restore the control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging.
  • the PCRF further adjusts the control and charging policy of the UE by reducing the QoS in the control and charging policy when online charging is switched to offline charging, the QoS of the UE is restored after the processing unit 1101 executes the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the sending unit 1102 sends, to the PCRF, an update message that carries the event of switching from online charging to offline charging or the online charging recovery event, and the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy of the UE according to the message, thereby further mitigating the user account overdraft risk.
  • the user does not need to be deactivated.
  • online charging can be recovered only by means of signaling interworking between the network device and the OCS such that signaling overheads can be reduced.
  • the processing unit 1101 when switching the UE from online charging to offline charging, the processing unit 1101 is further configured to perform charging data record splitting to generate an offline charging data record, where the offline charging data record carries a switched-to-offline flag, and the switched-to-offline flag is used to identify that a BS performs differential charging processing on the offline charging data record, and when restoring the UE from offline charging to online charging, the processing unit 1101 is further configured to perform charging data record splitting such that a newly generated offline charging data record no longer carries the switched-to-offline flag.
  • the processing unit 1101 In a process in which the processing unit 1101 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, the processing unit 1101 performs charging data record splitting, and the charging data record splitting is considered as a first time of charging data record splitting. After the first time of charging data record splitting, each charging data record subsequently generated in the offline charging process carries the switched-to-offline flag, and the switched-to-offline flag is used to identify that a BS needs to perform differential processing on the offline charging data record, that is, to perform complementary fee deduction.
  • the processing unit 1101 restores the UE from offline charging to online charging.
  • the processing unit 1101 performs charging data record splitting, and the charging data record splitting is considered as a second time of charging data record splitting.
  • a subsequently generated offline charging data record no longer carries the switched-to-offline flag, and it indicates that in subsequent online charging, the subsequently generated offline charging data record is used only for account reconciliation, but not used as a fee deduction basis.
  • the charging data record generated during offline charging carries the switched-to-offline flag, thereby implementing complementary fee deduction on the charging data record in the offline charging process, and improving implementability of the solution.
  • a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a network device 12 includes a processing unit 1201 configured to switch UE from online charging to offline charging, a sending unit 1202 configured to send a first update message to a PCRF, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, and a receiving unit 1203 configured to receive a first update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the first update answer message carries a second control and charging policy, and the second control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is adjusted by the PCRF according to the first update message.
  • the processing unit 1201 is further configured to execute the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the processing unit 1201 in the network device 12 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, thereby ensuring continuing use of a service and improving user experience.
  • the processing unit 1201 When the processing unit 1201 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, or after the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, the processing unit 1201 interacts with the PCRF to obtain a control and charging policy.
  • the sending unit 1202 sends the first update message to the PCRF to report, to the PCRF, an event that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging.
  • the PCRF After receiving the first update message, the PCRF adjusts a first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to a second control and charging policy in order to mitigate a user account overdraft risk.
  • the first update message sent by the sending unit 1202 to the PCRF may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the PCRF After the sending unit 1202 sends the first update message to the PCRF, the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy of the UE to the second control and charging policy.
  • the PCRF sends the second control and charging policy to the receiving unit 1203 in the network device 12 using the first update answer message, and the receiving unit 1203 receives the first update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the first update answer message sent by the sending unit 1202 to the PCEF may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the processing unit 1201 executes the second control and charging policy on the UE in order to reduce a user account overdraft probability.
  • the sending unit 1202 sends an update message to the PCRF when the processing unit 1201 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, and the PCRF adjusts a control and charging policy of the UE according to the update message such that the user account overdraft risk can be mitigated.
  • the sending unit 1202 sends the CCR-U message to the PCRF using a Gx interface for communication with the PCRF.
  • the CCR-U message carries an Event-Trigger AVP.
  • the Event-Trigger AVP is used to report an event to the PCRF such that the PCRF generates different control and charging policies according to different events.
  • Parameter values of the Event-Trigger AVP are extended such that one of the parameter values is used to indicate an event of switching from online charging to offline charging, and the parameter value is referred to as a first parameter value.
  • the PCRF generates a corresponding control and charging policy according to the first parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE, and the control and charging policy is referred to as the second control and charging policy.
  • the PCRF adjusts the first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to the second control and charging policy used during offline charging may include adjusting QoS in the control and charging policy. Further, the QoS in the control and charging policy is reduced. For example, a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitigating the user account overdraft risk.
  • a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitigating
  • the PCRF may adjust another parameter in the control and charging policy, for example, adjust a charging rate to mitigate the user account overdraft risk.
  • a specific adjustment method is not limited herein.
  • the sending unit 1202 is further configured to send a second update message to the PCRF after the UE is restored from offline charging to online charging, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging.
  • the receiving unit 1203 is further configured to receive a second update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the second update answer message carries the first control and charging policy, and the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging, and the processing unit 1201 is further configured to execute the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the processing unit 1201 After restoring the UE from offline charging to online charging, the processing unit 1201 interacts with the PCRF to obtain the control and charging policy in order to restore the control and charging policy of the UE.
  • the sending unit 1202 sends the second update message to the PCRF to report, to the PCRF, an event that the UE is restored to online charging.
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy used by the UE during offline charging to the first control and charging policy used during online charging.
  • the PCRF sends the first control and charging policy to the PCEF using the second update answer message, and the PCEF receives the second update answer message sent by the PCRF.
  • the PCEF executes the first control and charging policy on the UE in order to restore the control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging.
  • the second update message sent by the sending unit 1202 to the PCRF may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the second update answer message sent by the PCRF to the PCEF may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the sending unit 1202 sends the CCR-U message to the PCRF using the Gx interface for communication with the PCRF.
  • a parameter value of an Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message is extended such that the extended parameter value is used to indicate an online charging recovery event, and the parameter value is referred to as a second parameter value.
  • the PCRF restores the control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy according to the second parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE.
  • the PCRF adjusts the control and charging policy by reducing the QoS of the UE when online charging is switched to offline charging
  • the PCRF restores the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy by restoring the QoS of the UE.
  • the following describes another network device in an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a network device 13 includes a receiving unit 1301 configured to receive a first update message sent by the PCEF after a PCEF switches UE from online charging to offline charging, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, a processing unit 1302 configured to adjust a first control and charging policy of the UE to a second control and charging policy according to the first update message received by the receiving unit 1301 , and a sending unit 1303 configured to send a first update answer message to the PCEF, where the first update answer message carries the second control and charging policy such that after receiving the first update answer message, the PCEF executes the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the following describes interaction between units or modules in the network device 13 of the present disclosure using a specific application scenario.
  • the PCEF When the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, or after the PCEF switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, the PCEF interacts with the network device 13 to obtain a control and charging policy. In this case, the PCEF sends the first update message to the network device 13 to report an event that the UE is switched from online charging to offline charging, and the receiving unit 1301 in the network device 13 receives the first update message sent by the PCEF.
  • the first update message received by the receiving unit 1301 may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the processing unit 1302 adjusts the first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to the second control and charging policy in order to mitigate a user account overdraft risk.
  • the sending unit 1303 sends the second control and charging policy to the PCEF using the first update answer message such that after receiving the first update answer message, the PCEF executes the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the first update answer message sent by the sending unit 1303 to the PCEF may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the receiving unit 1301 in the network device 13 receives an update message sent by the PCEF, the processing unit 1302 adjusts a control and charging policy of the UE according to the update message, then the sending unit 1303 sends an adjusted control and charging policy to the PCEF, and the PCEF executes the adjusted control and charging policy on the UE such that the user account overdraft risk can be mitigated.
  • the receiving unit 1301 receives, using a Gx interface for communication with the PCEF, the CCR-U message sent by the PCEF.
  • the CCR-U message carries an Event-Trigger AVP.
  • the Event-Trigger AVP is used to report an event to the processing unit 1302 in the network device 13 such that the processing unit 1302 in the network device 13 generates different control and charging policies according to different events.
  • Parameter values of the Event-Trigger AVP are extended such that one of the parameter values is used to indicate an event of switching from online charging to offline charging, and the parameter value is referred to as a first parameter value.
  • the processing unit 1302 generates a corresponding control and charging policy according to the first parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE, and the control and charging policy is referred to as the second control and charging policy.
  • the processing unit 1302 adjusts the first control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging to the second control and charging policy used during offline charging may include adjusting QoS in the control and charging policy. Further, the QoS in the control and charging policy is reduced. For example, a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mitigating the user account overdraft risk.
  • a QoS parameter such as a stream service quality class of the UE, an uplink rate, a downlink rate, a bit error rate, a packet loss rate, a delay, a jitter, or a peak rate is controlled such that QoS in the second control and charging policy is lower than the QoS in the first control and charging policy, thereby mit
  • the processing unit 1302 may adjust another parameter in the control and charging policy, for example, adjust a charging rate to mitigate the user account overdraft risk.
  • a specific adjustment method is not limited herein.
  • the receiving unit 1301 is further configured to receive a second update message sent by the PCEF after the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging
  • the processing unit 1302 is further configured to restore the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy according to the second update message received by the receiving unit 1301
  • the sending unit 1303 is further configured to send a second update answer message to the PCEF, where the second update answer message carries the first control and charging policy such that after receiving the second update answer message, the PCEF executes the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging
  • the PCEF re-obtains a control and charging policy from the network device 13 in order to restore the control and charging policy of the UE.
  • a specific process is as follows.
  • the receiving unit 1301 receives the second update message sent by the PCEF, and a function of the message is reporting, to the network device 13 , an event that the UE is restored to online charging.
  • the processing unit 1302 restores the second control and charging policy used by the UE during offline charging to the first control and charging policy used during online charging.
  • the sending unit 1303 sends the first control and charging policy to the PCEF using the second update answer message, and the PCEF receives the second update answer message sent by the sending unit 1303 in the network device 13 such that the PCEF executes the first control and charging policy on the UE in order to restore the control and charging policy used by the UE during online charging.
  • the second update message received by the receiving unit 1301 from the PCEF may be a CCR-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the second update answer message sent by the sending unit 1303 to the PCEF may be a CCA-U message, or may be another message. This is not limited herein.
  • the receiving unit 1301 receives, using the Gx interface for communication with the PCEF, the CCR-U message sent by the PCEF.
  • a parameter value of an Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message is extended such that the extended parameter value is used to indicate an online charging recovery event, and the parameter value is referred to as a second parameter value.
  • the processing unit 1302 restores the control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy according to the second parameter value in the Event-Trigger AVP in the CCR-U message of the UE.
  • the processing unit 1302 adjusts the control and charging policy by reducing QoS of the UE when online charging is switched to offline charging, the processing unit 1302 restores the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy by restoring the QoS of the UE.
  • a schematic diagram of a hardware structure of a network device 14 includes a receiver 1401 , a transmitter 1402 , a processor 1403 , and a memory 1404 .
  • There may be one or more processors 1403 in the network device 14 and one processor 1403 is used as an example in FIG. 14 .
  • the receiver 1401 , the transmitter 1402 , the processor 1403 , and the memory 1404 may be connected using a bus or in another manner.
  • a bus connection is used as an example in FIG. 14 .
  • the processor 1403 is configured to perform the following steps of performing online charging for UE, and learning that an OCS is unavailable, switching the UE from online charging to offline charging, and starting an offline timer when the OCS is unavailable, where the offline timer is configured to indicate a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE, and restoring, by the PCEF, the UE from offline charging to online charging if the PCEF learns, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS becomes available.
  • the processor 1403 is further configured to perform the following steps of setting the transmitter 1402 to send a request message to the OCS, and setting the receiver 1401 to receive a success response message sent by the OCS, where the success response message is a response to the request message, and is used to indicate that the OCS has become available.
  • the processor 1403 is further configured to perform the following steps of setting the transmitter 1402 to send a first update message to a PCRF, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, setting the receiver 1401 to receive a first update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the first update answer message carries a second control and charging policy, and the second control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is adjusted by the PCRF according to the first update message, executing, by the PCEF, the second control and charging policy on the UE, and executing the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the processor 1403 is further configured to perform the following steps of setting the transmitter 1402 to send a second update message to the PCRF, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging, setting the receiver 1401 to receive a second update answer message sent by the PCEF, where the second update answer message carries a first control and charging policy, and the first control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is restored by the PCRF according to the second update message, and executing the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the processor 1403 is further configured to perform the following steps of learning that a link between the network device 14 and the OCS fails, setting the transmitter 1402 to send the request message to the OCS after perceiving that a failure in the link between the network device 14 and the OCS is rectified, or setting the transmitter 1402 to regularly send the request message to the OCS when the OCS makes no response or setting the receiver 1401 to receive an error code sent by the OCS.
  • the processor 1403 is further configured to perform the following steps of performing charging data record splitting to generate an offline charging data record, where the offline charging data record carries a switched-to-offline flag, and the switched-to-offline flag is used to identify that a BS performs differential charging processing on the offline charging data record, and performing charging data record splitting such that a newly generated offline charging data record no longer carries the switched-to-offline flag after setting the receiver 1401 to receive the success response message sent by the OCS.
  • the processor 1403 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, starts the offline timer, sends the request message to the OCS to attempt to recover online charging, restores the UE from offline charging to online charging before the offline timer expires, if the success response message sent by the OCS is received, it indicates that the OCS has become available. Therefore, according to the solution, after a user is switched to offline charging, an online charging function can be recovered in a timely manner when the OCS becomes available. In this way, a user account overdraft risk possibly existing in an offline charging process is mitigated, and deactivation of the user can be avoided in the solution, thereby improving user experience.
  • a schematic diagram of another hardware structure of a network device 15 includes a receiver 1501 , a transmitter 1502 , a processor 1503 , and a memory 1504 .
  • There may be one or more processors 1503 in the network device 15 and one processor 1503 is used as an example in FIG. 15 .
  • the receiver 1501 , the transmitter 1502 , the processor 1503 , and the memory 1504 may be connected using a bus or in another manner.
  • a bus connection is used as an example in FIG. 15 .
  • the processor 1503 is configured to perform the following steps of switching UE from online charging to offline charging, setting the transmitter 1502 to send a first update message to a PCRF, where the first update message is used to indicate that the UE has been switched to offline charging, and setting the receiver 1501 to receive a first update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the first update answer message carries a second control and charging policy, and the second control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is adjusted by the PCRF according to the first update message, and executing the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the processor 1503 is further configured to perform the following steps of setting the transmitter 1502 to send a second update message to the PCRF after the UE is restored from offline charging to online charging, where the second update message is used to indicate that the UE has been restored to online charging, setting the receiver 1501 to receive a second update answer message sent by the PCRF, where the second update answer message carries a first control and charging policy, and the first control and charging policy is a control and charging policy that is of the UE and that is restored by the PCRF according to the second update message, and executing the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the processor 1503 sets the transmitter 1502 to send an update message to the PCRF such that the PCRF adjusts a control and charging policy of the UE according to the message, and sends an adjusted control and charging policy to the processor 1503 in the network device 15 , and the processor 1503 executes the adjusted control and charging policy on the UE. In this way, a user account overdraft risk is further mitigated.
  • a schematic diagram of another hardware structure of a network device 16 includes a receiver 1601 , a transmitter 1602 , a processor 1603 , and a memory 1604 .
  • There may be one or more processors 1603 in the network device 16 and one processor 1603 is used as an example in FIG. 16 .
  • the receiver 1601 , the transmitter 1602 , the processor 1603 , and the memory 1604 may be connected using a bus or in another manner.
  • a bus connection is used as an example in FIG. 16 .
  • the processor 1603 is configured to perform the following steps of setting the receiver 1601 to receive a first update message sent by a PCEF, adjusting a first control and charging policy of UE to a second control and charging policy according to the received first update message, and setting the transmitter 1602 to send a first update answer message to the PCEF, where the first update answer message carries the second control and charging policy such that after receiving the first update answer message, the PCEF executes the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the processor 1603 is further configured to perform the following steps of setting the receiver 1601 to receive a second update message sent by the PCEF after the PCEF restores the UE from offline charging to online charging, restoring the second control and charging policy of the UE to the first control and charging policy according to the received second update message, and setting the transmitter 1602 to send a second update answer message to the PCEF, where the second update answer message carries the first control and charging policy such that after receiving the second update answer message, the PCEF executes the first control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the processor 1603 sets the receiver 1601 to receive an update message sent by the PCEF, the processor 1603 adjusts a control and charging policy of the UE according to the update message and then sends an adjusted control and charging policy to the PCEF using the transmitter 1602 , and the PCEF executes the adjusted control and charging policy on the UE such that a user account overdraft risk can be mitigated.
  • a schematic diagram of an embodiment of BS 17 includes a PCEF 1701 and an OCS 1702 .
  • the PCEF 1701 is configured to perform online charging for UE, switch the UE from online charging to offline charging, and start an offline timer after learning that the OCS 1702 is unavailable, where the offline timer is configured to indicate a maximum time from offline charging to deactivation for the UE, and restore the UE from offline charging to online charging if the PCEF 1701 learns, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS 1702 becomes available.
  • the PCEF is located at a gateway, and may be a GGSN in a GPRS network in actual application.
  • the BS 17 includes the PCEF 1701 and the OCS 1702 , when learning that the OCS 1702 is unavailable, the PCEF 1701 switches the UE from online charging to offline charging, and starts the offline timer, and restores the UE from offline charging to online charging if it is learned, before the offline timer expires, that the OCS 1702 becomes available. Therefore, according to the solution, after a user is switched to offline charging, an online charging function can be recovered in a timely manner when the OCS 1702 becomes available. In this way, a user account overdraft risk possibly existing in an offline charging process is mitigated, and deactivation of the user can be avoided in the solution, thereby improving user experience.
  • a schematic diagram of another embodiment of BS 18 includes a PCEF 1801 and a PCRF 1802 .
  • the PCEF 1801 is configured to switch UE from online charging to offline charging, and send a first update message to the PCRF 1802 .
  • the PCRF 1802 is configured to receive the first update message sent by the PCEF 1801 , adjust a first control and charging policy of the UE to a second control and charging policy according to the first update message, and then send a first update answer message to the PCEF 1801 , where the first update answer message carries the second control and charging policy.
  • the PCEF 1801 is further configured to receive the first update answer message sent by the PCRF 1802 , and execute the second control and charging policy on the UE.
  • the BS 18 includes the PCEF 1801 and the PCRF 1802 , when online charging is switched to offline charging, the PCEF 1801 sends an update message to the PCRF 1802 such that the PCRF 1802 adjusts a control and charging policy of the UE according to the message, and sends an adjusted control and charging policy to the PCEF 1801 , the PCEF 1801 executes the adjusted control and charging policy on the UE. In this way, a user account overdraft risk is further mitigated.
  • the disclosed system, apparatus, and method may be implemented in other manners.
  • the described apparatus embodiment is merely an example.
  • the unit division is merely logical function division and may be other division in actual implementation.
  • a plurality of units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not performed.
  • the displayed or discussed mutual couplings or direct couplings or communication connections may be implemented using some interfaces.
  • the indirect couplings or communication connections between the apparatuses or units may be implemented in electronic, mechanical, or other forms.
  • the units described as separate parts may or may not be physically separate, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physical units, may be located in one position, or may be distributed on a plurality of network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual requirements to achieve the objectives of the solutions of the embodiments.
  • functional units in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each of the units may exist alone physically, or two or more units are integrated into one unit.
  • the integrated unit may be implemented in a form of hardware, or may be implemented in a form of a software functional unit.
  • the integrated unit When the integrated unit is implemented in the form of a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, the integrated unit may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.
  • the software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions for instructing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device) to perform all or some of the steps of the methods described in the embodiments of the present disclosure.
  • the foregoing storage medium includes any medium that can store program code, such as a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, a removable hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.
  • USB universal serial bus
  • ROM read-only memory
  • RAM random access memory
  • magnetic disk or an optical disc.

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